Linkin Park Lead Singer Chester Bennington Dead at 41 [VIDEO]

Sadly, the world lost another lead singer by suicide today. Linkin Park’s lead singer, Chester Bennington, died from an apparent suicide by hanging, the Associated Press reported Thursday morning. The rock community was shocked to hear of the loss of a second iconic singer. Bennington was 41 at the time of his death.

[Scroll Down For Video]

The LA County Coroner office was called to Bennington’s Palos Verdes home shortly after 9 a.m. According to those close to the rock star, Bennington had a troubled upbringing that transferred into his adult life.

At the age of 11, the talented singer started to experiment with marijuana after his parents got divorced. After finding fame, he began to delve into harder drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

In 2011, he told The Guardian he was sexually assaulted as a young boy. “When I was young, getting beaten up and pretty much raped was no fun,” he said. “No one wants that to happen to you and honestly, I don’t remember when it started.”

Bennington was known for his piercing scream and talented vocal fluidity. He found success as the front man for Linkin Park with hits like “In the End” and “One Step Closer,” both of which were No.1 on Billboard’s music charts.

In between albums for Linkin Park, Bennington also fronted for Stone Temple Pilots between 2013 and 2015, according to Rolling Stone.

One of the Linkin Park’s founding members, Mike Shinoda spoke on behalf of the band stating he was “shocked and heartbroken.”

Bennington had just recently dealt with his friend and fellow lead singer Chris Cornell’s suicide, issuing a heartfelt letter in May. “I can’t imagine a world without you in it,” he wrote. “I pray you find peace in the next life,” he wrote.

His death came to a surprise to many as he sounded overwhelmingly positive on social media lately, according to the New York Times. He’d shared images of his daughter graduating from college and pictures of himself creating new music.